The Southeast Warren Schools Food Pantry began operation in 2016 and has seen the number of community members served grow since they opened their doors just over seven years ago.

According to Dianne Chambers with the food pantry, when the operation first began they served between 10-15 families, but that number grew to as many as 50 families in 2023. To be eligible for assistance from the food pantry, residents must live within the school district’s boundaries, but do not need to have a student attending the school. Chambers adds that the other guideline for assistance from the Southeast Warren Schools Food Pantry is to complete a form on site that allows the Food Bank of Iowa to track the needs of those that need assistance.

“Every July 1st, the Food Bank of Iowa sends me a form that we have people who come to the pantry fill out. There’s ranges of income, and they just check off what range they fit into along with the number of people in their household. And now the Food Bank is asking if they qualify or if they do have food assistance or not, because the Food Bank of Iowa is trying to keep track of that issue as well.”

The Southeast Warren Schools Food Pantry is open on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 4:30-6:30 pm. Find the full interview with Dianne Chambers here.